Kerrycroy Bay Beach

The beach at Kerrycroy Bay, just north of Dunoon, is one of those stretches of Clyde coast that actually rewards the effort of finding it. You get proper sand here - the kind that doesn't disappear entirely at high tide - backed by low dunes and enough space that you won't feel hemmed in by other visitors even on decent weather days.

It's a straightforward spot: walk down from the car park, kick about on the beach, paddle if the mood takes you. The water's cold (this is the Clyde, after all), but the bay itself feels sheltered enough. On clear days you can see across to the hills beyond, which is a damn sight better than staring at grey drizzle. The beach works well for families who want somewhere to burn off energy without the full-on seaside-town experience of Dunoon itself.

Walkers will find it a useful stop on longer coastal rambles rather than a destination in its own right. Bring a picnic - there's nothing much nearby. Two, maybe three hours is the realistic window before people start getting restless, depending on the weather and tide.

If you're based at Beach House Pods nearby, this becomes genuinely handy - close enough for a quick morning walk before breakfast, or an evening stroll when the light softens. Free to access, obviously. Go when the tide's out and you've got the whole bay to yourself.